Friday, July 06, 2007

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

BJ's Restaurant and BrewhouseDid you know that the popular pizza chain, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse started in Santa Ana?

I remember going there with my family when I was a kid.

It was located on 17th street, just a block east from the corner with Bristol St. It opened up in 1978.

According to BJ's website, it was called, "BJ's Chicago Pizzeria", but my family always called it "Chicago Pizza". It had sawdust all over the floor, and they indeed made some great chicago-style pizza. The lighting was always dark inside, and my parents would always get a pitcher of beer. I want to say that they used to have red and white checkered tabled cloths.

In 1996, BJ's began offering their own line of beers, and then switched their name to "BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse". I remember in the late 1990's seeing BJ's springing up everywhere, but it never dawned on me this was the same "chicago pizzeria" that my family went to in the late 70's.

Our family would pack up inside my dad's Chevy van, with some friends of ours, and we'd have a great time there.

Interestingly, BJ's no longer operates a restaurant in Santa Ana.

I sent an e-mail to the people at BJ's and asked if they had a photograph of the original Santa Ana restaurant, and I got a reply from Rob DeLiema, the President, that they did not. If any of you happen to have one, contact me, and I'll put it online.

Otherwise, click on "Post a Comment" if you remember going to the original BJ's.

13 comments:

  1. There was "BJ Grunts Chicago Pizza" located on Bristol just off Warner next to the Metro Car wash, early 1970's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There was another BJ Grunt's in Newport Beach!

    ReplyDelete
  3. We lived in the neighborhood just behind BJ's. (That neighborhood is now called Washington Square.) After BJ's left, the place was a sports bar for a long time. When we left Santa Ana 8 years ago, it was a British pub. We ate there a few times, and different friends worked there over the years, but we were partial to Rene's Pizza on Main St. since my brother worked there and brought home free pizza!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Are you sure it was Bristol & 17th? I lived in that area and drove it all the time, and I don't remember a pizza place...was it across from the car wash or something?

    ReplyDelete
  5. BJ Grunts on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. The "Sweet Pig". OMG that was the best pizza back in the day. I tried it recently at a newer BJ's Brewery restaurant and it's changed. Too bad, the original recipe was killer... meaning good! There's a spice left out I think it's anise or something similar. Oh well. Wonders why they dropped the Grunts name?

    ReplyDelete
  6. BJ's in Balboa was at one time a coffee house called "The Prison of Socrates"
    http://www.talesofbalboa.com/arc2000/prison.htm
    I certainly went there often enough in my high school days and just beyond. We saw Tim Morgon often and Hoyt Axton, Steve Martin and many others.

    ReplyDelete
  7. In the 70's and 80's I was in Fullerton..but I always drove to Orange to get pizza at BJ Grunts...later BJ Grunts Chicago Style Pizza..then BJs Chicago Style Pizza...now BJs...that place is gone but I like the new version pretty well...still order the same Sweet Pig or BJs Favorite...just like in the 70s, but now there's great beer, avocado egg rolls and pzookies....life is good....lol

    ReplyDelete
  8. I used to go to BJ's ALL the time! I had my 21st birthday party there and it's where I fell in love with calzone. NOBODY has ever come close to their calzone! I've ordered that for 20 years and I've never had anything that tasted like BJ's! I'm visiting Disneyland today with 3 of my kids and had plans to take them to the Bristol or Balboa locations (as I frequented both back in the day) but am reading they're closed!!! Ouch! Wanted to pass on the memories. I think somewhere I have a pic inside the Bristol place...wow I'll have to find that and send it along.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro from 77-79, and recall a BJ Grunts restaurant in Costa Mesa near the CM Mall. What GREAT pizza! Loved the garlic, and the crust was truly mouth watering! Wonder when it closed in CM? Alphamale

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anyone remember a BJs in Costa Mesa near the mall back in 77-79? Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro from 77-79, and recall a BJ Grunts restaurant in Costa Mesa near the CM Mall. What GREAT pizza! Loved the garlic, and the crust was truly mouth watering! Wonder when it closed in CM? Alphamale

    ReplyDelete
  12. BJ Grunt's Santa Ana, wow what a wonderful memory!! The crust was amazing, I usually don't like a thick crust, but this was crispy on the bottom. I finally figured out how to do it myself. PDX

    ReplyDelete
  13. I remember a Chicago Style Pizza restaurant on 17th near Bristol in the '80s, I believe it was called "the Factory". The most memorable thing for me was the attached bar that featured a "World tour of Beers". They would give you a punch card and a menu/checklist with over 100 beers from all over the world. Once the punch card had been completely punched out they would engrave a mug in your name and hang it on the wall. There were a few celebs with mugs on the wall, the only one I remember is Steve Garvey. I wonder if anyone else remembers.

    ReplyDelete

Custom Search